Chapter 5
"Akito, I don't think it was a good idea leaving them back there." Tsuyoshi said. He and Akito were sitting in Akito's room. "What was that fight even about,anyway? What did you do this time?"
Akito stared out the window as he answered. "Nothing."
Tsuyoshi sighed. Akito continued to stare out the window. The sun had begun to set and the sky was a yellow-pink color. Purple clouds floated above.
"Only a few more hours until Sana's next show." Tsuyoshi said,trying to break the tension.
"So?" Akito asked.
Tsuyoshi sighed again. Minutes passed in silence before Akito spoke up.
"You and that Aya girl really hit it off."
"W-what do you mean,Akito?" Tsuyoshi asked.
"I saw you." Akito replied.
Tsuyoshi's face turned bright red,his glasses sliding down his nose. "Y-you saw?"
Akito nodded his head. "How did it happen?"
"W-well,Aya went to th-the restroom and I went after her." Tsuyoshi stuttered over his word. "We b-both came out at the same t-time and kinda bumped into each other. And it just,s-sorta happened."
"Way to go." Akito said.
"'Way to go'? That's all you have to say?" Tsuyoshi asked.
"Did you want me to say more?" Akito asked. He turned to look at him,his face expressionless as always.
"N-no. Not really." Tsuyoshi said nervously.
Akito turned back to the window. After a minute,Tsuyoshi yawned. "Akito," Tsuyoshi said. "I think I'll take a nap before Sana's show tonight. I'll see you later."
Tsuyoshi left Akito's room and went next door to his. He was asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Akito continued to stare out the window,his fight with Naozumi going over in his head. If Sana hadn't stopped it when she did,he probably would've been seriously injured. His jaw still hurt. If Naozumi had been 3% more muscle,he probably might have dislocated it.
Without realizing,Akito drifted into a sleep. He was woken up by Tsuyoshi shaking him.
"Hey there sleepyhead." He said. "You gonna sleep through Sana's show?"
Akito stood up and stretched. "Let me change." He said.
"Alright." Tsuyoshi left the room while Akito changed. As he did,Akito tried to remember the dream he was having. He couldn't remember much,but the only think he could remember was Sana.
Sana walked down the darkening street toward the saloon. At a quarter to ten, many shops had already closed . The saloon was one of the only few buildings still lit up. She entered through the back door and proceeded to her dressing room.
In her dressing room, she dressed herself in a different dress then the one she had earlier. It was a silky blue and gray dress with fringe at the end of the sleeves. She also wore white gloves that stopped at halfway between her wrist and her elbow.
As Sana applied her make-up, she thought about the people who had promised to be there tonight. Aya's always at her evening shows cause she can't make the afternoon shows. Naozumi said he wouldn't miss it. And Tsuyoshi was coming,too. But what about Akito? Sana wondered if Tsuyoshi would drag him to the show.
Shaking herself out of her thoughts,she stood up and looked at her reflection.'All things good' Sana thought. 'Show time.'
Walking onto the stage, Sana's heart raced the usual faster pace. With a deep breath,the curtains rose. She walked onto center stage and looked around the room. Sana say Aya sitting in the somewhat center of the room. She was wearing her plainest fancy dress,which was also her fanciest plain dress. She smiled at Sana with a face that said 'Knock 'em dead.'
Naozumi sat at a table close to the stage. He wore a clean white shirt and his black sheriff vest and badge. He was probably applauding the hardest when the curtain rose. His red palms her the proof.
Tsuyoshi was sitting at the bar again. Her wore his normal clothes from earlier. He didn't have much to change into. And behind him was Akito. Akito had changed his clothes from earlier. He wore a gray long-sleeved shirt with a white shirt underneath. He still wore his new gray pants.
Sana was so happy to see them all,her heart quieted down to normal and she started to sing. Her first song was a slow love song about two people meeting and being together for the rest of their lives. Everyone in the room listened intently.
After an eight minute break,Sana returned to the stage to sing another song. This song was a fast beat comedy song about the joys of traveling. The entire room cheered with laughter. Except Akito.
When that song was done,she took another eight minute break. She walked on stage again for her last song of the night. It was a loud medium speed beat song about victory and friendship. As she walked off stage, only one person didn't applaud. Everyone else seemed as if they would clap forever.